this post was submitted on 02 Feb 2024
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39
Help choosing an android tv box (sopuli.xyz)
submitted 9 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
29 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 
  • I would be using it to watch jellyfin mostly, but also youtube (I've seen that smartube looks good) and netflix.
  • Security and privacy are priorities.
  • My budget is up to 50 dollars.

I've seen this one onn Android TV amazon link, is it any good?

I'm new to the android tv box world so any help is appreciated.

top 29 comments
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[–] [email protected] 21 points 9 months ago

I have an Nvidia Shield TV. With 150$ its outside of your price range, sadly.

But: I've been running this thing for 7 years now and its still trucking. Compared to other smaller streaming sticks that have become unusable because of bloat firmware updates over time.

You can install custom firmware on it, but my understanding is that when you want streaming apps like Netflix or Disney to give you more than 720p output, you need the official OS.

If you want to Dodge the ads on the launcher, there are alternative launchers that can simply be sideloaded.

I don't use Jellyfin but I have all my movies on an SMB share that I'm accessing via Kodi. The hardware is strong enough to decode any format you throw at it.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Security and privacy are priorities

If that is a true priority, then you do not want Android TV. (You would also be hesitant with youtube and netflix).

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago (4 children)

Is there a good way to watch the streaming services on your TV without trusting either Google/Apple/Amazon to not spy on you with their hardware?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

You can use kodi on any old computer or a kodi device like Vero that uses OSMC. There are non official apps for most services. Some take a little time setting up, others just username and password. While kodi its self might not spy. The streaming services certainly still track what you watch.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Probably not (For the major streaming platforms like Netflix / Hulu / etc).

You’d have to sail the high seas.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Good question.

For youtube, there are alternative frontends (piped etc.)

I have no experience with the others.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

I went for an old small PC so that I can get 4K on Netflix with Edge (most Android box tops at 1080p or less, I don't remember, because they are not certified by Netflix). I can watch YouTube videos on piped.com, use a VPN to watch contents available only in other countries and in this way no one is spying on me. @[email protected]

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

If that is a true priority, then you do not want Android TV.

Not even a raspberry pi with lineage os?

You would also be hesitant with youtube and netflix

I know. As I said, I'd be using Jellyfin for the most part.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 9 months ago

The Onn is considered the best in class at the moment.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago (2 children)

I am using a Chromecast Ultra, but that only works if you're ok with using google hardware and software.

I set it up so that smarttube is my default youtube player. I use the stock Netflix app and no jellyfin.

I would like to use PeerTube on it but there is no client where you can log in to your account.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

How do you force Smarttube as default? I uninstalled the default YouTube app, but if the device suggests a YouTube video and I click on it, it tries to install YouTube instead of opening it in Smarttube.

If you don't want to write out a lot of instructions but have a link to someone else's instructions, please feel free to do that...

[–] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago (2 children)

SmartTube -> Settings -> About -> Enable global search (firmware support needed)

If you click that it will download a app which will function like a gate (it places it in instead of the original YouTube app which it deletes) and sending everything which normally goes to the original YouTube app to SmartTube instead. So global search works, the promotional stuff on the homepage also gets opened in SmartTube and so on.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

thx, works wonders on my CCwGTV

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Thankyou Jeena, you absolute God/ess!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Man, I wish I could chromecast netflix from my phone but apparently Netflix now requires you to use their app.

I should get smarttube though.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Chromecast is my go to. Then I strip all google services remove stock launcher and add the Jellyfin apk, Kodi, And Newpipe

Make Kodi default launcher and use Kodi live TV with a IPTV M3u. However I hate the Kodi Jellyfin add on

Also usually sync my Newpipe backup from my phone once a month so tv and phone somewhat match for YouTube

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Huh. Didn't know you could do that to a Chromecast! Do you do it using adb?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago (2 children)

CC with android tv. not a regular CC or a CCU

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Right has to be Chromecast with Android TV

Do they even sell the other ones anymore?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

im sure some are still being sold, make sure it says w/ android TV.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

I'll have to check the box but I'm pretty sure that's what I bought. The fact that this is even an option is pretty exciting. Would I be able to include Adguard if you can push apks to it? (Would it even be worth it?)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Yes you use adb

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

The onn box is decent, but the 'Chromecast with Google TV' is a bit better performance.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Chromecast 4k is my choice

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

OP said that privacy is a priority, so I guess that Chromecast is out of discussion

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

It just runs Android TV, which is what OP is looking for.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Not sure what the difference is to an Android 'tv stick', but tv sticks cost around 20$ (converted in head from danish kr) on aliexpress. Example: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006381266184.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.39.ce819Szc9Szcrc&algo_pvid=78295de8-770e-47db-af24-96fd92ab26e2&algo_exp_id=78295de8-770e-47db-af24-96fd92ab26e2-19&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21DKK%21359.58%21125.85%21%21%2152.80%2118.48%21%402103252e17052172444052693eb007%2112000036967194627%21sea%21DK%21123519862%21&curPageLogUid=dTrPgOd3FrQu&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A

[–] [email protected] 0 points 9 months ago

Get a firestick. After trying literally 5 different unbranded TV boxes I gave up. Those are all shit.

Get a Shield, but out of budget, or get a fire stick. They just work, are powerful enough and support enough codecs.

They are amazon so hey, ads and shit included, but way the best hardware for the price (yes they will hard code DNS and ignore your pihole)

[–] [email protected] -1 points 9 months ago

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